Apparatus for phonographically recording telephonically-transmitted conversations.



H. STA'BCKE. APPARATUS FOR PHONOGRAPHICALLY RECORDING TELEPHONICALLY TRANSMITTED CONVERSATION APPLICATION FILED MAY I. I9I2.

Patented J me 6, 1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HANS STABOKE, OF COLOGNE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB TO THE FIRM OF WALSECK & STABCKE, OF COLOGNE. GERMANY.

APIBABATUS FOR PHONOGBAPHICALLY RECORDING TELEPHONICALLY-TRANSMITTED CONVERSATIONS. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6,1916.

Application filed May 1, 1912. Serial No. 694.572.

changes in the telephone apparatus and that they require the employment of a great number of auxiliary batteries or auxiliary circuits.

The device according to the present invention avoids the necessity of making con-. structional changes in the telephone appara-- tus and avoids also the employ of auxiliary batteries and circuits by working mainly with the telephonic current.

The device itself is perfectly independent I of the construction of the telephone and can be connected to any telephone station by the a mere interposition of a two-pole changeover switch.

The special and most important feature of my invention is to be seen in the arrangement of a multiple switch actuated by the calling current which closes several circuits, a line circuit for cutting the writer inand the microphone indicating to the caller the number called by electrically operating a signal roller, and a local circuit for cuttingin an auxiliary battery for releasing the starting mechanism for the recorder and for the advancement of the same.

One illustrative embodiment of my inven tion is represented by Way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 1s a diagrammatic view of the device according to the present invention with the multiple switch and the mechanism connected therewith on an enlarged scale. Fig. 2 is a detail view of part of the multiple switch.

My apparatus is connected as follows: Referring to Fig. 1, the numerals 1 and 2 designate the two terminals connected with the telephone of the called subscriber when he is not present and wishes the conversation to be phonographically recorded should he be called up. In the illustrative embodiment the multiple switch which has to bring about the individual electrical connections between the various devices comprised inithe entire apparatus is shown as a two-armed lever 4, 5 mounted to rock about the pivot 3. The arm 4 of this lever carries the armature 6 of the electromagnet 7 The arm 5 of this lever carries at its free end a piece of insulation 11 located in the bend 9 of a contact spring 10 connected to the terminal 8. This spring 10 is normally in contact with the fixed terminal 12 connected with the connection terminal 2. The'arm 4 of the multiple switch 4, 5 is likewise connected with theterminal 12 by the contact piece 13 and in this manner with the connection terminal 2. When the multiple switch 4:, 5 rocks, the contact piece 13 slides on a contact-piece 14 which is connected with the recorder 1 and with the microphone 8 connected in series therewith.

An electromagnet 15 connects into circuit the mechanism for the acoustic signal. To this end, its armature 16 which is carried by a spring 17 is provided with a pin 18 bent at right angles which actuates the two-armed that the two-armed lever 19 actuated by the armature 16 may be returned into its normal posltion when the electro-magnet 15 is not lever 19. By means of the connecting-rod energized, it is balanced by an adjustable counterweight 36. This lever 19 for actuating the locking and unlocking device for the acoustic signal cylinder '12, is connected by a peculiar lock with the multiple switch 4, 5. Pivoted on the arm 4 is a catch or detent 20 whose movement toward the arma ture 6 is limited. Namely, this catch is constantly pulled toward its stop 22 on the lever 19 by a coil spring 21. The catch 20 is released by the rectangular member 18 on the armature 16 when this member 18 abuts against .a spring-like projection 37 of the catch 20. The multiple switch 4, 5 simultaneously, however, closes the circuit which has to release or stop the clockwork in the casing f for driving the cylinders or disks. To' this end, a part of the lever arm 4 is made L-shaped, and the two bars 24: (Fig. 2) forming a channel are preferably made of insulation or must carry insulation. A ball 23 which, in the highest position of the multiple switch 4;, 5, electrically connects the terminals 25 and 26 can run on these bars. These terminals are located inthe circuit of a battery 27 and are connected with an electromagnet 28 whose springpressed armature 29 locks or releases the fly 30 of the clockwork in the casing f.

The described apparatus operates as follows :When the subscriber wishes the con versations with him. to be phonographically recorded he connects the terminals 1, 2 With his telephone by means of a change-over switch. At the moment a call is made current flows over terminal 12 by Way of the spring 10 to terminal 8, the electromagnet 7 and back to terminal 1. The electromagnet 7 attracts its armature 6; the contact 10, 12 is simultaneously broken so that the electromagnet 7 becomes currentless. Atthe same moment, however, the circuit containing the terminal 2,. contact-piece 13, terminal 14, electromagnet 15 and terminal 1 has been closed. The armature 16 is attracted and drives the lever 19 by the bent member 18. When the circuit of the electromagnet 7 is broken and the two-armed lever 4, 5 tends to return into its normal position, the catch 20, which is constantly pulled by the spring 21 toward the armature 6, abuts against the stop 22 of the lever 19 and prevents the arm 4 descending. The lever 4 is returned into its initial position by means of its own weight, a spring however may be arranged to assist with movement. The contact 13, 14 consequently remainsclosed. Owing to the movement of the lever 19 the lever 31 is driven and the lower lug 34 releases the stop 35, so that the cylinder 91/ can be driven by its own driving mechanism and the number of the called subscriber is communicated to the calling subscriber by means of the microphone s. The cylinder n rotates until the stop 35 strikes against the upper lug 33 of the lever 31; the acoustic signal is then looked. Current simultaneously flows over the contacts 13, 14 through the recorder 21 and over the microphone 8 back to the terminal 1, so that the conversation of the calling subscriber is recorded by the recorder.

In order that the clockwork for rotating the recording cylinders or disks shall not be started too quickly the multiple switch 4:, 5 is provided with a peculiar switching device for closing the circuit for locking the mentioned clockwork. When the armature 6 is attracted by its electromagnet 7 the ball 23 rolls slowly in the channel '24 until it is located between the two contact-pieces 25, 26. The circuit is closed at this moment, the electromagnet 28 attracts the spring-influenced armature 29 and releases the fly 30 of-the clockwork in the casing f. The cylinders or disks now rotate and the conversation of the calling subscriber is automatically' recorded. As soon as the current at the end of a conversation is interrupted at the contacts 1 and 2, the electro magnet 15 is deenergized and the member.

18 of the armature 16 releases the catch 20 from the stop 22 by means of the springs 17 so that the arm 4 of the multiple switch 4, 5, falls down and the circuit is interrupted at-the contacts 13,14.

Owing to the action of the counterweight 36 the lever 19 simultaneously follows the movement of the catch 20. The lever 31 rocks in the opposite direction. The upper lug 33 releases the stop 35 and the cylinder n begins to rotate under the action of its clockwork. It is, however, locked again by the lug 34 which holds the cylinder n ready for the next conversation. When the arm 4 moves downward the ball 23 rolls back into its normal position and opens the contact 25, 26, so that the clockwork in the casing f for driving the talking machine cylinders or disks is locked. The contact 10, 12 is subsequently closed in order to return the entire apparatus into its normal position for a new conversation.

In the illustrative embodiment the switch 4:, 5 is formed as a two-armed lever. Obviously, the same can be made in various other forms; likewise, the form of the contacts 10, 12; 13, 14; and 23, 25, 26 is unimportant; these contacts may be substituted by other equivalent means known in the art. Also, the electromagnets 7, 15 and 28 together with their armatures may be formed as solenoids or the like.

I claim 1. In an apparatus for phonographically recording telephonic conversations without the aid of the called station, an electro-magnetic multiple switch adapted to-be operated by the call, a recorder adapted to receive a forward movement, a record for said recorder, an electro-magnet, means for associating said recorder and record and said electro-magnet with a line circuit, a signal roller adapted to be operated by said electro-magnet upon the operation of said switch for in dicating to the caller the number called, and an auxiliary battery through which a circuit is closed by said switch for releasing the starting mechanism for the record and for the advancement of the recorder, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for phonographically recording telephonic conversations without the aid. of the called station, a two-armed multiple switch, an interrupter contact for the circuit of the multiple switch, an electromagnet for. said switch, and a spring having a curved portion adapted to receive the insulated end of one of the arms of said multiple switch adapted to out said electro-magnet out of the calling circuit, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for phonographically recording telephonic conversations without the aid of .the called station, a two-armed multiple switch, an electro-magnet for said switch, means for cutting said electro-magnet out of the calling circuit, a checking and releasing device upon the multiple switch for retaining said switch in operating position upon the deenergizing of said electromagnet, a signal roller, an electro-magnet for said signal roller, a record roller, an electro-magnet for said record roller, and means for closing the circuits in which said signal and record roller-electromagnets are located while the electro-magnet for the switch is denergized, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for phonographically recording telephonic conversations of the character-described, a two-armed multiplev switch, a checking lever upon one arm of said multiple switch, a signal roller, an electro-magnet for said signal roller having an armature for arresting said checking lever,

and a circuit for energizing said electro magnet, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for phonographically recording telephonic conversations of' the character described, a two-armed multiple switch, a signal roller and a record roller, a check lever secured to one arm of said switch, a two-armed weighted lever, an electro -magnet .for said signal roller, an armature and an electromagnet for said record rollers, said electromagnet located in one ation of said armature caused by the opening and closing of the circuit in which said electromagnets are located, and a microphone associated with said signal roller adapted to communicate .to the caller the number called, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus for phonographically recording telephonic conversations of the character described, a two-armed multiple switch, an acoustic signal roller, a stop upon the operating mechanism for the same, a lever, two stops upon said lever for engaging said stop, a recorder, an electro-magnet for said signal roller, intermediate links between said lever and said electro-magnet, and a microphone for communicating said acoustic signal to the calling subscriber and said electro-magnet simultaneously checking the multiple switch, substantially as-described.

7 In an apparatus for phonographically recording telephonic conversations of the character described, a two-armed multiple switch, a groove in the upper face of one of said arms, contact pieces at both sides of said arm, a recorder and a signal roller, a clockwork for operating said recorder and record, and means for electro-magnetically locking and unlocking said clockwork, substantially,

as described. y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribmg witnesses.

. HANS STARGKE. Witnesses: e

Joan E. WALSECK, Loms VANDORY. 

